LOS ANGELES – Even after four days of rest and the specter of a statement game against a bitter Pacific Division rival, the Ducks looked as if they were still spent from a long trip that ended nearly a week ago.

In a season full of stunted momentum, the Ducks didn’t create any Sunday night as four second-period goals by the Kings were all they needed in a 4-1 victory in front of an overflow crowd of 18,313 at Staples Center.

The Ducks didn’t generate anything beyond Matt Beleskey’s goal, and goalie Jonas Hiller couldn’t bail them out as he was pulled after Dustin Brown’s power-play goal that gave the Kings a three-goal lead.

“We made too many critical mistakes with the puck,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “I just didn’t think we executed anywhere near to our abilities. It just seemed we couldn’t get anything going.”

Beleskey, recalled from the minor leagues earlier in the day, got his first goal of the season on a deflection to immediately answer Wayne Simmonds’ score just 15 seconds into the second period.

Anze Kopitar put in a rebound midway through, and Justin Williams scored an unassisted goal as he capitalized on the Ducks’ Joffrey Lupul mishandling the puck in his end.

“I think we just got our legs underneath us, started skating and making plays,” Kopitar said. “I think we really got after them and really took the game to them.”

Hiller was yanked after making 19 saves. He was 4-1 in his previous five games with a 1.38 goals-against average.

“We gave them way too many chances in the slot,” he said. “I probably should have stopped some and nobody would talk about it. I wasn’t good enough.”

The Ducks have lost four of five and heading in the wrong direction. They fell meekly this time, mustering only three shots in the third period and 19 in all against Kings backup goalie Jonathan Bernier.

“The game before the break, we didn’t play well,” Ducks defenseman Andy Sutton said. “Here’s another one where we didn’t give the right effort.”